Chain of Command 2 - Game Report 11

Operation Martlet – 2000-2200 25 June 1944

Introduction

This is the 3rd scenario from the Operation Martlet PSC (Pint Sized Campaign). The British have pushed on late in the day and encountered the main line of resistance in the village of Fontenay Le Pesnel.

Ground

Given many of my readers liked to see the ground, and the real ground as seen on my battlefield tour in Oct 2025, here is the terrain map from the scenario. As before the numbers relate to the vantage points where I took pictures.

View 1 – From the British Start Line.

View 2 – looking from the road into the sunken gardens, and yes these are high walls!

View 3 – Looking towards the farm complex – note that where the beige house would be would be open fields.

View 4 – Looking from the high walls surrounding the gardens towards the farm. Note how few windows there are from the outside of the barns. This would have required some cunning loopholes to be cut in the walls by the defenders.

This is from the right hand end of the horizontal red-line from point 4, looking back into the walled gardens. This reinforces the point made on the height of these walls – breaching charges are a must.

View 5 – A view into the farm complex.

View 6 – from the crossroads in the village, the German start line.

Finally, the terrain that Kevin built.

Situation

The attack continued into the night, with the aim of pushing the enemy out of their main defensive position before first light on the 26th June.

Enemy Forces

The enemy were known to have taken significant losses, that they were ill-equipped to replace. They did have armour and heavy weapons in abundance so we might expect steel to replace men in the next phase of the operation. Moreover, this village was expected to be the main line of resistance, and we could expect any of the buildings to be greatly improved positions to at least the level of protection of bunkers.

Friendly Forces

With the loss of 2Lt Sutherland, the Battalion Commander sent forward a replacement officer to assume command. 2Lt George Dunbar was 21 year old young officer. He had come down from university to enlist and was quickly sent on an Officers training Course. He was relaxed and confident and Sgt Wilson warmed to him immediately.

He brought forward with him from Battalion HQ three replacements and he and Sgt Wilson reorganised the platoon into three 8-man sections, with the 2" Mortar Team and Piat Team. Of greater import was the news he brought that they would be supported by an AVRE, engineers with explosive charges and fire support from the battalion mortar platoon.

Mission

5 Platoon is to secure the crossroads and destroy all enemy within boundaries.

Post Mission Report

2Lt Dunbar brought up the engineer team to breach the outside wall of the farm complex.

Meanwhile 2 Section deployed into the walled garden.

With the breach successfully made 1 Section moved up to 2lt Dunbar ready to effect entry.

With progress being made by 5 Platoon to occupy the buildings in front of the crossroads, the AVRE was called forward.

3 Section were brought forward to occupy the building. Once the Bren team were in place on the top floor of the barn to provide covering fire the rifle team with the section commander moved out to secure the Café.

Both 3 Sections rifle team and 2 Section deployed forward to protect the flank of the AVRE.

The AVRE moved forward under the close protection of 2 and 3 sections.

In the near distance 2 and 3 Sections heard the distinct engine sound of enemy tanks.

There was the sharp crack of tank cannons with both vehicles missing each other. 2Lt Dunbar ordered smoke from the 2" Mortar.

The smoke dispersed more rapidly than we would have wished for (end of turn on three sixes), but The PzIV decided that it needed additional protection and fired its smoke grenades for cover.

However, this smoke also cleared rapidly (Kevin ended the turn when he wanted to!)

With dispersion of the smoke the PZ IV fired and brewed the AVRE. While this was happening 2Lt Dunbar sent the rifle team left flanking around the north side of the farm complex, only for these men to be ambushed by two MG42 teams. With the loss of the men from 1 Section and the loss of the PIAT team, which had vainly attempted to attack the tank but instead were cut down by an MG42 from the house on the south side of the crossroads, the Battalion Commander ordered 5 Platoon to withdraw.

Outcome

5 Platoon lost a further 8 men in this attack, including 1 Section Commander Cpl McKie. The losses taken by 11th Royal Scots Fusiliers (11 RSF) led the Brigade Commander to call forward 7th Duke of Wellington's Regiment (7 DWR) to continue the attack in the morning.